Venezuela to Suspend Energy Agreements with Trinidad

Venezuela's oil ministry will ask the presidency to suspend a wide cooperation agreement with Trinidad and Tobago for energy development, including joint gas projects in negotiation, the South American country's oil minister said.

Trinidad's previous government had been planning numerous joint gas projects with Venezuela, including the 4.2 trillion cubic feet Dragon field to be developed by Shell and the National Gas Company of Trinidad, for which it received a U.S. license earlier this month.

However, the new administration of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has not been seen as an ally by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Since taking office in April, her new government has had a close relationship with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, while tensions between Washington and Caracas have escalated.

The current relationship between Trinidad and Venezuela, which could complement each other's energy needs, is "hostile," oil minister Delcy Rodriguez said in a broadcast message.

"In consequence, all gas agreements between Venezuela and Trinidad would be suspended," she said, adding that President Maduro is expected to receive the suspension request soon.

Venezuelan officials have criticized the authorization Trinidad received from the U.S. to negotiate the flagship Dragon project with U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela, and said Trinidad would have